9News Colorado reports on reactions to Turkey’s coup attempt among members of the Mosaic Multicultural Society, a Gülenist organization in Denver, and officials from the Lotus School of Excellence:

Gulen inspired schools have popped up all over the world with a focus on S.T.E.M. education and English language learning outside of the US. Several hundred secular charter schools exist in the United States, including the Lotus School of Excellence in Aurora.

Hashemi says these schools generally have a good reputation but there have been investigations into questionable financial management of the schools run largely by Turkish immigrants who follow the teachings of Gulen.

“They finance the movement, they have schools around the world including several hundred charter schools here in the United States. It does have a certain hierarchal sort of authoritarian internal organizing capacity and component to it’s internal functioning,” Hashemi said.

The Colorado Board of Education denied to appeals for additional charter schools by Lotus citing “financial concerns, facility concerns, enrollment concerns” and a “lack of transparency.”